Girl Scouts’ inquiry includes criticism of Huerta patch

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched an inquiry into the Girl Scouts of the USA, a leadership organization celebrating its 100th anniversary this year under its first Latina CEO Anna Maria Chavez, formerly of the San Antonio area scouting organization.

The Associated Press reports that the bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth will address the scouting group’s “problematic materials” and “possible problematic relationships.”

Critics have pointed to patches and other materials as well as an alleged association with Planned Parenthood. They take issue, for example, with a scouting patch in honor of labor leader Dolores Huerta, “whose shortcomings — in the eyes of some Catholics — include a 2007 award from Planned Parenthood,” and materials mentioning playwright Josefina Lopez, “Because one of her plays, ‘Simply Maria,’ was viewed by critics as mocking the Catholic faith.”

The AP report also notes that “Last year, the scouts angered some conservatives by accepting into a Colorado troop a 7-year-old transgender child who was born a boy but was being raised as a girl.”

The Girl Scouts’ membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, which includes 145 nations, has drawn criticism, too. That organization has been open about building awareness of sex and sexuality as well as the use of condoms to protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

To that criticism, Chavez responded: “Our world is becoming smaller and our young people need to have those opportunities to engage with their peers from around the world. But simply being a member does not mean that we will always take the same positions or endorse the same programs as WAGGGS.”

Gladys Padro-Soler, director of inclusive membership strategies, noted that, “It’s been hard to get the message out there as to what is true when distortions get repeated over and over.”